Metal threshold



June 27, 1933. c. J. PRINZLER METAL THRESHOLD Filed April 4, 1932 awn 00 (7a rl cllrz'nzler,

Patented June 27, 1933 PATENT Frien- CARL J. PRINZLER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T VONNEGUT HARDWARE 7 COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA METAL THRESHOLD Application filed April 4,

The object of my present invention is to provide a threshold of such character as to insure adequate protection against inflow of wind and rain, while at the same time avoiding possibility of such obstruction to the feet of persons passing through the doorway as will cause tripping or stumbling, the construction being such that the threshold may be readily set upon concrete floors either at 1 the time of pouring of the finish-surface or after the floor has hardened.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention.

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of one form 15 of my improved threshold formed to also provide the strike for a door latch or look, the adjacent door and latch or lock being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a similar section of another form 29 and Fig. 3 is a similar section of a third form.

Referring first to Fig. 1: The threshold comprises an intermediate substantially horizontal upper surface which is flanked at one side by a slightly downwardly inclined approach surface 11 and at the other side by a sharply upwardly inclined doorabutment surface 12 conveniently about half an inch in width, more or less, said surface, at its upper edge being'flanked by a substantially horizontal approach surface 13 flanked at its free edge by a sharply downwardly inclined and comparatively narrow surface 14, the surface 13 being perforated as indicated by dotted lines at 15 for the reception of the bolt of a latch or look 16.

Subtending the outer portion of surface 11 is a substantially horizontal footing surface 17 longitudinally striated to form comparatively sharp ridges 18. Subtending the surface 14: is a. comparatively narrow and substantially horizontal footing surface 19 in a plane parallel with the plane of footing 17, generally about half an inch.

In general the remainder of the under surface of the threshold follows the contour of the upper surface so that the threshold may be substantially uniform in thickness for convenience in manufacture, but along a medial line there is provided a depending 1932. Serial No. 602,978.

rib the lowerred'ge of which forms a foot ing surface 21 in the plane of the footing surface 17. The under surface is also grooved to form a plurality of downwardly presented drip corners 22 spaced above the plane of footings 1721 a distance greater than the normal diameter of a suspended water drop. Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3: The parts 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22 are the same as in the form shownin Fig. 1 but, as these forms of thresholds are intended to be used in connection with a substantially unbroken floor surface, as distinguished from the form of floor surface indicated in Fig. l, the upper edge of surface 12 being flanked by a sharply downwardly inclined approach surface 13 which, at its lower edge, is subtended by a narrow substantially horizontal footing surface 19 arranged in the plane of the footing surfaces 17 and 21 and the under surface 25, subtending the medial portion of surface 13, is provided with drip corners 22.

The threshold may be perforated, as indicated in dotted lines at r the reception of anchor bolts of well-known form.

The edges 32 of the threshold are made as thin as possible, without sacrificing stability and the inclinations of the surfaces 11, 12, 13 and 1 1 are such that shoe heels, particularly high heels of womens shoes, will not catch thereon. Considerable quantities of -thresholds having the dimensions shown in the drawin have been in use for considerable n b n periods and 1t has been demonstrated that such thresholds do not cause trlpping or stumbling of persons passing over the same.

It is the general practice in building construction that the floor surface, where thresholds are to be placed, are slightly outwardly inclined, as indicated by the dotted floor I line 10 and horizontal line 41. i

The door is indicated by the dotted lines 45 and the door is preferably chamfered to provide a surface contact with surface 12 instead of a mere corner contact, thereby ma terially decreasing the possibility of wind and rain being driven inwardly at this point.

In setting the threshold it is desirable to provlde plastic seats for the footing surfaces 17, 19 (or 19) and 21, which plastic.

seats, at least in the early stages of the use of the building, form effective seals against the entry of wind and rain. However, buildings become distorted by settlement and response to temperature variations and there is always the probability that the footing seals may become disturbed and in that case the chambers subjacent the drip corners 22 form vortex and settlement chambers which cause deposits of entering water upon the drip corners, from which corners the water ultimately drips to the floor and seeps out.

I claim as my invention:

1. A threshold having a transverse cross section comprising a medial door-subtending portion, flanked along one edge by a slightly downwardly-inclined approach portion and flanked along the opposite edge by an up wardly inclined surface having a vertical extent substantially exceeding normal door clearance within a transverse distance substantially less than one-half the transverse extent of said medial portion, said upwardly inclined surface being flanked along its upper edge by a laterally-extending surface provided medially with a bolt-receiving pocket.

2. A threshold having a transverse cross section comprising a medial door-subtending portion, flanked alongone edge by a slightly downwardly-inclined approach portion and flanked along the opposite edge by an upwardly inclined surface having a vertical extent substantially exceeding normal door clearance within a transverse distance substantially less than one-half the transverse extent of said medial portion, said upwardly inclined surface being flanked, along its upper edge by a laterally-extending downwardly inclined surface provided medially with a bolt-receiving pocket.

3. A threshold having a transverse cross section comprising a medial door-subtending portion, flanked along one edge by a slightly downwardly-inclined approach portion and flanked along the opposite edge by an upwardly inclined surface having a vertical extent substantially exceeding normal door clearance within a transverse distance substantially less than one-half the transverse extent of said medial portion, said upwardly inclined surface being flanked along its upper edge by a laterally-extending surface provided medially with a bolt-receiving pocket, the under surface comprising footings adjacent each side edge, an intermediate footing underlying said medial portion, and two intermediate areas raised above the level of the lower ends of said footings an amount substantially greater than a normal waterdrop diameter, and each of said intermediate areas embodying an intermediate depending drip rib the lower end of which lies above the footing level by an amount greater than a normal water-drop diameter.

4. A threshold having a transverse cross section comprising a medial door-subtending portion, flanked along one edge by a slightly downwardly-inclined approach portion and flanked along the opposite edge by an upwardly inclined surface having a vertical extent substantially exceeding normal door clearance within a transverse distance substantially less than one-half the transverse extent of said medial portion, said upwardly inclined surface being flanked, along its upper edge by a laterally-extending downwardly inclined surface provided medially with a bolt-receiving pocket, the under surface comprising footings adjacent each side edge, an intermediate footing underlying said medial portion, and two intermediate areas raised above the level of the lower ends of said footings an amount substantially greater than a normal water-drop diameter, and each of said intermediate areas embodying an intermediate depending driprib the lower end of which lies above the footing level by an amount greater than a normal water drop diameter.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 1st day of April, A. I). one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two.

1 CARL J. PRINZLER.

DISCLAIMER 1,916,116.Oarl J. Prinzler, Indianapolis, Ind. METAL THRESHOLD. Patent dated June 27, 1933. Disclaimer filed February 23, 1935, by the assignee, Vonnegut Hardware Company.

f 11 Hereby enters this disclaimer limiting claims 1 and 2 of said Letters Patent as By restricting the element upwardly inclined surface to a surface of which the Vertical extent substantially exceeds normal door clearance Within a transverse distance at least 0.46631 times the Vertical extent of said surface, but less than 0.70021 times the vertical extent of said surface.

[Ofiicial Gazette March 19, 1935.] 

